The Ark Preschool
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Leicester for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2022. Open since 2013, with 20 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Leicester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Leicester from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
LE5 1DAWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 7 June 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are very happy at The Ark. They are greeted at the door by friendly staff who support them to separate from their parents. Children know to hang up their coat and to stack their lunch box before they rush to the main room. They greet each other cheerily and are keen to check with staff to see if their special friends will also be present. Children settle well and quickly become engrossed in the games and books set out for them.
Children and staff share very positive relationships and this helps children to feel safe. Staff have high expectations of children and, consequently, children's behaviour is very good. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are supported to be respectful of each other. Children are encouraged to share, take turns and to use their manners.
Children are encouraged to be independent and manage their own self-care. They regularly sanitise their own hands and blow their own nose. Staff and children communicate clearly with each other. This helps children to understand the day-today routine and to anticipate what comes next. Children know that they will brush their teeth after snack and eagerly anticipate playing outside once their teeth are clean.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen support for staff to focus on developing their teaching practices to an even higher level.
- 7 June 2022Good
- 23 September 2014Good
- 28 April 2014Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Ark Preschool
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.